Learn more about what it is like to be in foster care from these real stories. The stories are written by the youth, for the youth. Each youth below experienced foster care and shared their #fosteryouthvoice in order to inspire, advocate, connect to other foster youth and to show that their voice can make a difference. The views and opinions expressed in the Real Stories are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of FosterClub.

Youth Voices During COVID

FosterClub has released a document titled "What Young People Who Aged Out of Foster Care Are Experiencing During the COVID-19 Crisis), containing quotes gathered through polls of young people across the country. The piece can be viewed at https://... Read more
Real Stories

Lucina's Story

My childhood was filled with war and terror, from growing up in a war-torn country to fighting my own battle with accepting my identity as a Queer Black Muslim girl. I was born in Liberia during my country’s second civil war that displaced so many... Read more
Real Stories
LGBTQ+ & Two-Spirit youth

Marcus' Story

I am Marcus Bell; I am 27 years young and I was raised in the system. I came into care at the age of six months along with my two brothers. I was placed into six different foster homes and separated from my siblings several times. Although, I... Read more
Real Stories
LGBTQ+ & Two-Spirit youth

Dameon's Story

Sometimes life gives you a bad hand. With your cards already dealt, there’s nothing else to do but take a seat and play the game. At the age of 6, I was brought into the foster care system after accidentally burning down mine and my mother’s room –... Read more
Real Stories
LGBTQ+ & Two-Spirit youth

Tim's Story

I entered foster care at age 12. I was in an abusive home and would act out so that I could get in trouble and hopefully get recognized so that I could get help. Life in foster care as an LGBTQ youth was far from easy. When I went into my first... Read more
Real Stories
LGBTQ+ & Two-Spirit youth

Eric's Story

When I was 8, I would find myself in a peculiar but fateful point in my life when I would enter into the Arkansas Foster Care system through child endangerment and neglect. Fortunately, my mother complied with the requirements in order to end our... Read more
Real Stories
LGBTQ+ & Two-Spirit youth